64.11 Spartan Echo

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Vol. 64, Issue 11

Trump meets with HBCU Presidents passed many executive orders in the short time Presidents of he’s been in office but he Historically Black Colleges and Universities says “With this executive order, we will make met with President HBCUs a priority in the Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Feb. White House, an 28.The meeting was to absolute priority.” The talk about the importance presidents were of investing in minority supposed to be meeting youth and making sure with new Education that HBCUs are a priority. Secretary Betsy DeVos, but that was cut short President Trump has committed to closer ties when the opportunity arose to meet and greet between his administration and the with the president in the Oval Office. Walter schools. Trump’s administration plans to Kimbrough, who is the implement an executive president of Dillard University, also attended order that will benefit the session. He spoke to HBCUs. President Trump has NPR’s Ari Shapiro about

by Omar Ross

how he felt about not speaking to the Education Secretary longer.

“We didn't expect to have an audience with the president, and that really, you know - it really was a photo opportunity. We didn't have any significant conversationN.but I didn't go there for that.

That wasn't my intent.

It's just something that happened. I really was interested more in a conversation with the secretary because she's new. She doesn't really know higher education.

continued on page 3...

In this photo taken Feb. 27, 201 7, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, on couch, as President Donald Trump meets with leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La. has apologized for making a crude joke about Conway. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Brown is not the controversy, white NFL owners are An editorial by Ashlee he found success but Jordan not popularity, as he

Antonio Brown, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers playing aginst the Minnesota Vikings Photo taken from the official Steelers website.

people find it rather controversial, including Despite the would fall to the 6th the referees who flag him shenanigans that have round in the 201 0 draft. for it. occurred during his NFL Not being a top pick Each year men and career, Antonio Brown motivated Brown, and women are hand chosen will enter the 201 7-1 8 has helped him exceed to entertain America as a season as the highest expectations since whole. Every year we paid wide receiver in arriving to the pros. witness scandals and league history. 28-year- Antonio Brown is known interpersonal situations old Antonio Brown hails for the various dance and relationships from from sunny Miami, moves he does to these entertainers. The Florida. Brown attended celebrate his crazy thing about these continued on page 8...

Central Michigan where touchdowns; many

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Spartan News

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Obamas plan for the future

by Omar Ross

It has been two months since the the 44th President, Barack Obama, ended his presidential term. Now the former first family has to decide what's next in their future post presidency. Since then, the former president and first lady had taken some time off and went on an extraordinary vacation in the British Virgin Island.

However, Barack Obama seems to want to keep his hands full keeping a strong connection with the political world.

The new location of the former first family is not far from the White House; it resides in the Tony Kalorama neighborhood in Washington, D.C. This will be their home until President Obama's youngest daughter, Malia Obama, graduates high school.

According to the Government Services Administration, a five year lease of the home has been signed.

To help with Obama's post presidential activities, Anita Decker

Breckenridge was chosen. Ms. Breckenridge was a personal aid for Barack Obama since 2003 when he was running for U.S. Senate. While keeping a strong line of contact with his Republican successor, President Donald Trump, Obama also plans to mentor the next generation of young democratic leaders.

Other things on the former president’s list is making sure Americans have access to affordable healthcare and tackling the issues of

gerrymandering.

Also, the All American Speakers Bureau has booked both Barack and

Michelle Obama for speeches at various locations.

The Obama family looks forward to life post presidency and will reside in D.C. until Malia's graduation from high school. Photo from President Obama's official Twitter page.

Hidden continent revealed further supports the theory the continent Zealandia The Geology Society of that it is an independent classified as a continental body. Past suggestions like America has published continent.

Central America, Arabia, Characteristics of the evidence of the hidden and Greater India have all continent called Zealandia new continent are been shot down. If that is concealed under suggesting that it is the Zealandia is selected as a the ocean around New thinnest and youngest Zealand. It was stated in continent on Earth. This continent, this would suggestion is backed by change our whole GSA Today that New the hypothesis of crustal perspective on the Zealand is not only an island, but also has the thinning. The size of the geological world and our understanding of tectonic highest mountain range new continent is speculated to stretch 1 ,500 processes in the Pacific because of the Ocean. introduction of Zealandia. meters north from New The article also suggests Zealand and is projected to This could possibly be the that the continent is 94 be two-thirds of the size of first of many discoveries hidden in the Pacific Australia. percent submerged Ocean, as well as planet underwater and because While this is all still in Earth in general. theory, geologists have of New Zealand's distance from Australia it been working hard to get

by Omar Ross

The hidden continent Zealandia is said to be hidden underneath the country of New Zealand.

Photo was taken from the official New Zealand tourist twitter page @PureNewZealand.

Share your thoughts with us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Also, get the latest entertainment news, as well as news from around the world and around the block, at SpartanEcho.org, where you can also watch Spartan Echo TV or the latest Associated Press videos, or download a copy of one of our past print editions.

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan News

04.07.1 7

Trump meets with HBCU Presidents ...continued from front

In this photo taken Feb. 27, 201 7, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, on couch, as President Donald Trump meets with leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La. has apologized for making a crude joke about Conway. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

She doesn't know HBCUs. And so this is an opportunity to educate her.

So that was a great opportunity that I just felt like was missed,” said Kimbrough.

Shortly after HBCU presidents met with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence met with the presidents in another room in the White House. He talked with them and ensured the presidents that HBCUs

would receive the attention they deserve.

Since that time, many HBCU presidents have expressed public skepticism about Trump’s intent. While Trump moved the previously existing HBCU initiative from the Department of Education back under the White House’s direct control, his new budget did not increase spending for HBCUs from previous levels under the Obama administration.

supports those tweets On Monday, March 20, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI," FBI Director James Comey testified before Comey stated.

The New York Times the House Intelligence reported that Comey Committee on several issues revolving around asked the Justice the current president, the Department to publicly denounce the president's White House and claims as false, though particular foreign countries. The first set of no official statement was released. There was one questions revolved around the investigation instance were Comey of Russia's involvement had showed reluctance to answer. When asked in last year's election which led to discussion of about a tweet in which the president's post on the president claims that Twitter. Former president Obama was "turned down" by the Foreign Barack Obama, intelligence officials and Intelligence Surveillance Court for a request to do several lawmakers on Capitol Hill have stated the surveillance. that there is no evidence "That would be expressly against the construct of that wiretapping the Five Eyes agreement occurred. that's been in place for "With respect to the President's tweets about decades," said Comey.

Not much was revealed alleged wiretapping on the issue as Comey directed at him by the suggested not to read prior administration, I have no information that too much into his non-

Spring 201 7 Staff Editor in Chief Tiana Allen Managing Editor Richelle Hammiel Deputy Managing Editor Malik Glaspie Graphic Design Layout Editor Brianna Menchion Multimedia Editor Shammah Waller Deputy Multimedia Editor Yao Hunt Assistant Multimedia Editor William Peele

Comey testifies on Russia, wiretaps and Trump

by Omar Ross

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responsiveness and then decided not to comment on the issue. However, Comey eventually was open to revealing more detail about the Russian hacking dilemma. It was first agreed back in December by the Obama administration, James Comey, and Director of National Intelligence James R.

Clapper that Russia's interference was all in favor of helping President Trump.

Ironically, the current president had tweeted about the hacking of the Democratic National Committee shaming them for getting hacked while also praising the Republic National Committee's "strong defense."

News Editor Omar Ross Deputy News Editor Jazmine Wiggins Lifestyle Editor Kori Wiggins Deputy Lifestyle Editor Jessica Toliver Entertainment Editor Shareen Nicholson Deputy Entertainment Editor Toloria Gray Sports Editor Quenten Crider Deputy Sports Editor Ashlee Jordan

FBI Director JamesComey laughs while addressing the Intelligence and National Security Alliance Leadership Dinner in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday, March 29, 201 7.

(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Student volunteers also serve as reporters, photographers, videographers and graphic designers. Staff meetings are every Tuesday and Thursday of the academic calendar year from 1 2:30 p.m. to 1 :1 5 p.m. in room 344 of the Student Center.

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Entertainment

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Snoop Dogg to induct Tupac Shakur into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Tupac is scheduled to be honored at the 201 7 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Photo from twitter.com/2pac

by Shareen Nicholson Shakur will be the sixth Snoop Dogg will honor Tupac Shakur next month at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

rapper to enter the institution. He follows Run-D.M.C., Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Public

Enemy and N.W.A. Tupac was a controversial figure, involved in the allegiance from East Coast to West Coast which ignited the rap game during the 1 990s. Many believe that this will be a welldeserved milestone for the Rock Hall. It comes after Kiss front man Gene Simmons, claimed that N.W.A. didn’t deserve to be inducted last year because they were a rap group.

Rapper and actor Ice Cube believes that Tupac’s induction is a sign that the rap spirit will not be silenced.

Snoop and Tupac worked together on All

Eyez on Me’s “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” and had a history as friends as label mates at Death Row Records.

They also worked together on “Wanted Dead or Alive” in 1 997, just before Tupac’s death.

Snoop Dogg performed at Coachella in 201 2 with a hologram of Shakur.

It has been rumored that Dr. Dre has been asked to join in on this induction.

They are planning to perform at least three songs. The full line-up for the tribute has not yet been confirmed.

Shakur’s induction comes just months prior to the release of his biopic.

The film All Eyez on Me, which is named after

Tupac’s fourth and final studio album, is said to chronicle the life of the famous 90s rapper. It will cover his life and rise to stardom. As well as his issues with Death Row Records and his time in prison.

The movie stars Demetrius Shipp Jr. as Tupac Shakur. As well as Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Annie Ilonzeh, Dominic L. Santana, Jamal Woolard and Lauren Cohan. The film is set to release on June 1 6, which would have been Tupac’s 46th birthday.

Others getting honored include, Pearl Jam, Yes, Joan Baez, Journey and Electric Light Orchestra.

“Get Out” kills at the box office African Americans made made up 36 percent and 49 percent of viewers were movie fans. up 39 percent of the under the age of 25.

“I define ‘social thriller’ as opening weekend thriller/horror movies audience, Caucasians where the ultimate villain is society. The next movies will be very different, I think, in terms of how on the nose they are. I wanna be a little more allegorical and cinematic. But at the heart of all my future movies is this idea of giving people something fun but addressing some sort of innately human demon we’re dealing with every day,” said This image released by Universal Pictures shows Daniel Peele in an interview Kaluuya in a scene from, "Get Out." Jordan Peele’s thriller with the Chicago sensation “Get Out” crossed $1 00 million, reaching that Tribune. milestone in just 1 6 days. It’s a staggering result for a film that, Audiences turned out though it cost less than $5 million to make, has become a in droves to see the film. cultural sensation. (Universal Pictures via AP) According to exit polls,

by Shareen Nicholson production cost during its refresher for horror Jordan Peele’s Get Out had a huge opening weekend at the box office grossing in $30.5 million in ticket sales.

Surprisingly, a horror film about a young black man (Daniel Kaluuya) who falls victim to his girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) white suburban family is the number one movie in America. Peele’s directorial debut has snagged strong reviews.The Blumhouse and QC Entertainment thriller snagged $1 0.842 million on its opening day, doubling its $5m production budget. The film has brought in more than six times its

opening weekend.

Get Out had great reviews and buzz going into its opening weekend.

The film had a 1 00 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is rare for a movie of this kind.

Peele, who is most known from his sketch comedy work on the series “Key & Peele,” wrote and directed the film.

Peele managed to make many references in his film including mixed relationships, slave trading, suburban racism and even police brutality.

It places real issues in a real life context. While there are some laughs in the movie, Get Out is a

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Entertainment

04.07.1 7

black. In the black community, I’m darkskinned. In America, I’m British,” said Kaluuya.

In a recent GQ magazine interview, Kaluuya expressed his opinion on the critique given by Samuel L. Jackson on the casting of “Get Out.” He gave respect to Jackson, but explained that he is a black man, and that the black people in the UK British Actor Daniel Kaluuya responds to Samuel L. are the reason he is about to have a career.

Jackson's comment on Non American Black actor “The people who are not being "Black enough" to play African Arican the reason I'm even roles. Photo from IMDb. about to have a career, had to live in a time Kaluuya still has to

by Omar Ross The movie “Get Out” prove his race, although where they went looking for housing and signs was released on Feb. he is a dark-skinned would say, ‘NO IRISH. 24 and received great man.

“People say ‘You’re too NO DOGS. NO feedback from BLACKS.’ That's reality. viewers. Although the black.’ Then I come to Police would round up America and they say feedback was good, all these black people, many people criticized ‘You’re not black the star of the movie enough.’ I go to Uganda; get them in the back of a van, and wrap them in I can’t speak the for not being “black blankets so their bruises language. In India, I’m enough.” Daniel

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wouldn't show when they beat them. That's the history that London has gone through,” said Kaluuya.

Despite the criticism, Kaluuya says he just wants to tell good stories.

"Get Out" was just such a story, and the actor said it's frustrating that "to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I've experienced as a black person,” said Kaluuya.

Kaluuya doesn’t want the attention to be all on him, but rather on the movie and the message that the director Jordan Peele is trying to bring across. He wants people to support him and what he is doing as a director. Being a black writer and director is big in the African American community and he brings a different perspective to movies.

“There's a message in

this thing. There's a black writer and director that has written a film that is critically acclaimed, and now is commercially profitable. Yet, we're trying to separate ourselves again? There's enough to deal with. But we just keep at it. It's all good,” said Kaluuya.

“Get Out” has received great reviews and has reached 99% on the Rotten Tomatoes website. Daniel Kaluuya resents that he has to prove he is black and he is still processing what that is. He is working on new films and is excited about the upcoming Black Panther movie and didn’t give many details about what is happening.

Jordan Peele is the first African American director and screenwriter to break the 1 00-million-dollar box office threshold with an original script.

Our President's Schedule Wednesday, March 29

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Student Office Hours Student Center, Room 331

Friday, March 31

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Faculty & Staff Office Hours Student Center, Room 331

Wednesday, April 1 2

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Student Office Hours Student Center, Room 331

If you wish to meet with Norfolk State University President and CEO Eddie N. Moore, Jr. to discuss items of your concern, then please fill out the online form at https://www.surveymonkey.com /r/9N¬RQ38Q well in advance of the dates listed to the left.

Student Office Hours:

Current students can request a 30minute appointment with the President in his satellite office at the Student Center.

Faculty and Staff

Office Hours: Current employees can request a 30minute appointment with the President in his satellite office at the Student Center.

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Lifestyle

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Stay safe at College Beach Weekend

is safety and here are some familiar with, contact a friend tips for you to have fun and be you know is nearby to come safe at the same time. and get you or backtrack to a Always keep a friend place you are familiar with. around you . The Virginia Don’t accept drinks from Beach Oceanfront will be filled anyone you didn’t arrive with college students like you; with. These days, you can however, that doesn’t make it never be sure with anyone. If safe. Keep at least two friends you do drink this year, make with you at all times when your own drink and keep it walking the strip. The “buddy with you. Many times during system” is a time-honored events like this, people aren’t method for staying safe in aware of what they almost every circumstance. consume, and this becomes Don’t neglect it now, an issue when you’re by especially in a large crowd. yourself or outside of familiar College Beach Weekend is from April 28th through Stay in areas that you are surroundings. the 30th this year and looks to be a promising yet familiar with . A familiar Secure a way around the safe experience this year. Photo pulled from College environment ensures that you area. Have a designated Beach Weekend website will be safe because you driver, or use apps such as become aware of your Uber, Lyft or Moovn to travel through the 30th and the

by Kori Wiggins surroundings, making it easier around the oceanfront. Do College Beach Weekend time to prepare for it is NOT drink and drive, no now. The most important to maneuver. If you find at the Virginia Beach thing during the weekend yourself in a place you’re not matter how little. It’s not Oceanfront is April 28th

worth the possible price you’ll pay. Also, do not accept rides from strangers; that’s just as risky as accepting a drink from them.

This year’s College Beach Weekend will be April 28 through 30 and will have events such as rapper G Herbo performing at Shakas Saturday, April 29, and “Day Party” on the same day from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Get your tickets now from the College Beach Weekend website, where you can also find out more information about the event.

Getting festive with Virginia’s 2017 Summer Festivals By: Kori Wiggins

Summer is quickly approaching and there are a lot of summer festivals being provided for the community. These festivals celebrate local crafts, heritage, regional produce and music of Virginia.

These festivals are defiantly an experience to attend and an introduction to new things. Here are some festivals around the area you should consider attending.

as an interactive and sensory driven journey into music and culture rather than a concert.

The festival provides an experience of jazz, blues and funk and will be complimented with the very best cuisine.

The Hampton Jazz Festival has been

summertime. Featuring prominent R&B and jazz artist, the festival is also known for its food, drinks and variety of vendors.

The Norfolk Harborfest, located in

Downtown Norfolk Waterfront, is celebrating America’s largest, longest-running, free maritime festival in its 41 st year. The festival offers a weekend of activities on land and sea to include tall ships and the Parade of Sail, artisan foods and beverages, work boat races, unique and unusual performances, as well as the largest fireworks show on the East Coast. The festival will be conducted from June 9th to the 11 th.

showcasing the best of jazz, pop, R&B and blues for the past 45 years. Artist such as Kem, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will be performing at this The Richmond Jazz year’s festival and the Festival is the nation’s festival will be held at premier jazz festival.

The Hampton Coliseum.

Located on Maymont The Norfolk Grounds, the jazz Waterfront Jazz festival features some Festival is always a of the most talented good place to attend and iconic artist of the when you’re looking for a And lastly is the 5th time and is described chill out spot during the annual Ribtoberfest &

The 201 7 Norfolk Harborfest will be from June 9th through the 11 th. With events catered to the sea, the Harborfest is defiantly a festival to attend. Photo pulled from Festevents page

Southern Foodways .

Ribtoberfest brings about The festival will be the best of southern food conducted on and beverages to Town September 23rd Point Park, accompanied beginning noon and by artist such as Dustin going on until 8pm. Now Furlow. on its 5th year,

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Lifestyle

04.07.1 7

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Pi Gamma Ques discuss future endeavors

by Kori Wiggins

The Pi Gamma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc recently initiated their new members after such a long time off campus and the campus is looking forward to what the organization has to offer for the remainder of the semester. Us at the Echo met with the current Basileus of the chapter, Alphonso Dale, Jr., to discuss what the chapter has coming up. Mr. Dale is a senior mass communications major and music technology minor from Newport News, Virginia. He is a Spring 1 4 initiate of the

Pi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The chapter plans on having a shoe drive for children, as well as partnering with Habitat for Humanity as well as The Virginia Food Bank for another community endeavor. The chapter also plans on setting up mentoring programs in schools in the local area.

Schools such as Tidewater Park Elementary, Larrymore, Campostella and Chesterfield have connections with the chapter

as well as relations with Bayside Middle and High School, Booker T. Washington High School and Shepherd’s Village currently in the works for these initiatives. Also, the chapter has a initiative to show that Black History is every month through a series of events geared towards showing the campus that.

“The chapter is currently trying to have a Pi Gamma week sometime in late April,” said Mr. Dale when asked if the chapter will be having a week of events for the

Spartan community.

Currently the week is still in the planning process, so no new details could be

discussed at the time.

However we can look forward to a lot of things from the chapter.

Brothers Shawn Fauntleroy, Tory Barner, and Derrick White helping out at the Mother and Daughter Dance at Larrymore Elementary School. (Photographer: Bro. Derik Green)

GMOs vs. Organic: It’s in the genes

Items such as milk can contain the effects of GMO. Photo taken by Shammah Waller.

genetically modified organisms, are the Dieting can be a difficult thing, and this is results of a laboratory process where genes due to the GMOs we consume on a regular from the DNA of one species are extracted basis. GMOs, or

by Kori Wiggins

and artificially forced into cucumber, just to name a the genes of an unrelated few. Organic foods stop plant or animal. These health issues such as genes can come from damaged nerve functions animals or even humans. from heavy metals used in GMOs can be found in GMOs such as lead and food items such as canola mercury, which can cause oil, corn, sugar, squash, diseases such as and milk just to name a sclerosis and the lowering few. The effects of GMOs of IQ, white cell damage, on the body range from lowering of the immune digestive health issues, system’s ability to resist allergic responses, gene infections due to solvents, transfer or even cancer. and provide the body with Organic foods are foods nutrients such as protein, that reduce the exposure vitamin C and many other of toxins used in minerals. Organic foods conventional agricultural also benefit cellular health practices. These foods as well. According to a can range from celery, whfoods.com article spinach, garden entitled “Why are Organic asparagus, potatoes and Foods Better for Health,”

eating organic foods help prevent genetic mutations that can lead to the development of cancer.

GMOs also hold some health benefits as well.

According to livestrong.com in their article entitled “Benefits You Get from a GMO,” GMOs are modified to produce a high protein content as well as enhancing the fatty acid profile, leading to crops producing higher levels of polyunsaturated fats, which plays a role in protecting against hearth disease.

However, the benefits from GMOs are often less in comparison to organic foods.

Need experience and work product to show a potential employer?

Get it at the Spartan Echo!

We’re now accepting applications for fall positions.

The Spartan Echo is accepting applications now for all editor positions. Student editors will serve during the fall 201 7 semester and may receive a performance grant for their service. Amounts vary by position and funding availability.

Some work--done from home--will be necessary during the summer break to prepare for the fall semester.

Please see the Spartan Echo staff page at http://www.spartanecho.org/staff for more information.Applications are available online from Student Activities. http://www.nsu.edu/Assets/websites/student-activities/Student-Publication-Forms/Spartan-Echo-Publication-Application.doc

Applications will be accepted via e-mail at seopfer@nsu.edu through Friday, April 1 4th.

SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu

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Spartan Sports

04.07.1 7

Brown is not the controversy, white NFL owners are

Antonio Brown, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers playing aginst the Minnesota Vikings Photo taken from the official Steelers website.

... continued from front black culture, so it scandals is they never matter until the white community is offended.

Despite the many humiliations that come from many of the players in the National Football League, Antonio Brown has raised many eyebrows and has many people in white America offended with his touchdown celebration dances. Dancing has always been a part of

by Quenten Crider

should be understandable that one does a dance as a celebration. A league dominated by white owners has many opinions about such small matters, but there are bigger problems that seem to stand out more to the African American eye.

The National Football League has no African American team owners

and less than 25% of general managers and coaches are African American paralleled with very few black trainers.

The number of African American players is far greater than staff, with 67% of the league being black. These players are hand picked by this prominently white staff to entertain and increase income for them, but reprimanded for a simple celebration dance because it is not understood within their culture. Despite the small number of African American staff members in the league, black coaches are responsible for nine out of 1 5 of the last Super Bowl champions.

Cultural appreciation and understanding is what is needed and the NFL has very little of it. A little dance is so small when one compares the fact that these men are risking their bodies and potential brain

damage to simply entertain America and make money for the National Football League.

One cannot help but raise the issue of racism when analyzing this issue that seems anything but controversial to someone who understands black culture.

Along with Antonio Brown’s controversial dances, he recently posted a video on social media that raised many eyebrows. Before it was released that Brown’s upcoming contract would be making history, he was at the forefront of the media with a Facebook live post. After an important playoff game win, while Coach Mike Tomlin was giving a powerful speech to his players, Brown was making a video on Facebook admiring himself and basking in the glory of his recent win at the time.

Many could argue that

Brown was being disrespectful to a brilliant coach, a Hampton, Virginia native who is only the 1 0th African American coach in NFL history and a coach who was inducted into the William and Mary hall of fame as a football player. Unfortunately, disrespect of the coach was not the issue the white community had with Brown’s Facebook post.

Instead, it was the violation of the secrecy of the locker room. Is the Caucasian community so blind they do not see the disrespect of the black coach over the violation of secrecy?

Racism is the real issue here in a league dominated by old white men who can’t see black men as men to be respected or see black culture as normal emotional reaction.

Spartan men ready for next year

conference record, Norfolk Every year that Norfolk State was only a game State steps on the away from hoisting it’s 2nd basketball court our MEAC championship presence is felt. The trophy. Senior guard University is well Johnathan Wade led the represented in many team all year, putting ways, none more together one of the best important than our athletes single season efforts in running up and down the school history. Wade hardwood wearing green finished the year averaging and gold. This past 1 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds season had its ups and and 1 .9 assist per game. A downs for sure, but a late stat sheet stuffer, Wade push down the stretch and exhibited heart, pride and leadership helped the toughness each game, Spartans put together a always giving us a chance respectable finish, just to compete. missing out on the NCAA Norfolk State will enter tournament. next year without his Finishing 2nd in the services and hope to lean MEAC with a 1 2-4 on upcoming seniors for

leadership. 2nd leading scorer and point guard Zaynah Robinson expects to lead the upcoming charge. Seeing action since his freshman year, Robinson is primed for a breakout season and should finish his career with several honors and accolades. Also expected to contribute is Alex Long and Dan Robinson. 6’8” and 7’0” respectively, both big men look to provide some size and length in the paint.

With much more talent spread across the roster, names will begin to emerge throughout the offseason and chemistry will develop.

Each year the goal is the same: “win the MEAC,” a task not easy to complete, but very possible when considering the quality of student athletes

Norfolk State produces.

NSU will be mentally and physically prepared come tip off in 201 7, and Spartan nation should already be getting excited.

Norfolk State University's Jonathan Wade drives to the basket against North Carolina Central in the first half of their MEAC championship NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 11 , 201 7 at Scope in Norfolk, Va. Central won the game 67-59. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | (757) 823-8200 | spartanecho@nsu.edu